### FC San Diego Appoints New Head Coach
FC San Diego has officially announced the appointment of Mikey Varas as the club’s inaugural Head Coach. Varas joins FC San Diego from U.S. Soccer, where he recently served as the interim Head Coach of the United States Men’s National Team.
“We believe Mikey is the ideal choice to lead San Diego FC as our first head coach,” said SDFC owner and president Sir Mohamed Mansour. “As we prepare for our inaugural season, Mikey’s leadership, his drive to succeed immediately, and his deep understanding of player development make him the perfect candidate to guide our club forward.”
Varas was hired as the Head Coach of the U.S. Men’s Under-20 National Team in November 2021. Under his leadership, the team posted an 8-3-3 record in his first 14 months, including a dominant performance in the Concacaf U-20 Championship 2022, where the team won the tournament. The U.S. team qualified for the Olympics for the first time since 2008 and claimed its third consecutive confederation title after an undefeated seven-match run, including six clean sheets.
In the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Varas scouted opponents for the national team and later guided the U-20 team to the top of their group in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina.
“Mikey embodies the values and ambitions of San Diego FC,” added SDFC Sporting Director Tyler Heaps. “His vision for how the game should be played aligns with ours. His enthusiasm and commitment have resonated with our community and our vision for the club. We have high aspirations for SDFC, and we believe Mikey has the passion, drive, and leadership to help us build a winning culture.”
Before joining U.S. Soccer, Varas was an assistant coach at FC Dallas under former head coach Luchi González for three seasons, helping the team reach the MLS playoffs twice, bolstered by key academy players.
“I am honored to join San Diego FC as the club’s first head coach,” said Varas. “The chance to build something special from the ground up with such ambitious and committed owners and in a city with such passionate fans is truly exciting. I look forward to working with the team and the community to develop a winning culture from the start. I will give my all for this club and the people of San Diego.”
Varas started his professional coaching career with the Sacramento Republic academy, earning recognition as the West Conference U-14 Coach of the Year for the 2016-17 season. He holds a U.S. Soccer Pro License, speaks Spanish, and has a master’s degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis on Physical Education from Fresno Pacific University, and a master’s in Organizational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University.
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### Related News: Updates from the Soccer World
#### Los Angeles FC Announces New Youth Development Program
In other soccer news, Los Angeles FC (LAFC) has unveiled a new youth development program aimed at nurturing young talents in the region. The program is designed to identify, train, and develop local youth soccer players to potentially become future stars of the team.
“This program is about giving young, talented players in our community a platform to grow and succeed,” said LAFC President John Thorrington. “We are committed to investing in the future of soccer by providing top-notch training facilities and coaching staff.”
LAFC’s initiative includes partnerships with local youth clubs, providing access to the club’s world-class training facilities and coaches. This program aligns with the club’s mission to continuously invest in homegrown talent and build a strong foundation for the future.
For more details, visit the official LAFC website and follow them on social media for the latest updates.
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